Football

Castleton Football Adds to Incoming Class

Jun 08, 2018

CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University football team has announced that eight more student-athletes have made a deposit, committing to attend the University and join the Spartan football program starting in the fall of 2018.

"We are extremely excited about this group of players that we had commit a little later in the process," Castleton head coach Tony Volpone said. "Coach (Blaise) Zambrano did a great job recruiting in Rhode Island and Connecticut and landed us some very talented players from those two areas. We completed them nicely with some talent that can help us at the line of scrimmage in defending the run."

Simon Davis hails from Warwick, R.I., and was a two-year starter at running back for Pilgrim High School. A team captain, Davis was named the team's MVP and earned First Team All-Division honors twice. His coach Blake Simpson calls Davis "an absolute workhorse that will do anything you ask of him."

Colin Ellsworth is another running back, coming from Higganum, Conn., and graduating from Hadam Killingworth High School. He was a two-year member of the varsity team and received the teammate award from his fellow players. According to his coach Mike Baklik, Ellsworth "led by example, came with a positive attitude, and brought intensity."

Kyle Ford also resides in Warwick, R.I., and attended Pilgrim High School like Davis. A two-year starter at defensive back, he was also a team captain as well as an All-Division team member and a Rhode Island All-Star. Simpson says that Ford was a "great leader (who was) always in the weight room and always looking to better his craft."

Andres Garcia is a defensive lineman from Derby, Conn., who was a two-year varsity player at Derby High School. He received the Ernest Cirilo Award for Sportsmanship. According to his coach George French, Garcia "gives a great effort in practice and is well-loved by everyone around him."

Nick Oliveira hails from Narragansett, R.I., and was a three-year starter at defensive back at Narragansett High School. A team captain, he received First Team All-Division honors as he led the team in tackles and forced fumbles. His coach Sam Fry says that Oliveira is "a cerebral football player that packs a lot of energy and fills the alley with a purpose."

Casey Scheper is a resident of Westfield, N.J., and was a linebacker at Westfield High School. A three-year starter on the varsity team, Scheper helped his squad to three state championships and three straight perfect seasons. His coach Jim Desarno says that Scheper is "a versatile player who can play every linebacker position."

Arthur Stott will cross the state line into Vermont after playing on the defensive line at Guilderland High School in Guilderland, N.Y. Stott is a 12 Season Athlete Award recipient at Guilderland. His coach William Schewe says that Stott's "dedication to the grind will continue to help him strengthen his role on a team and make the players around him better."

Anthony Vann is a native of Warwick, R.I., who was a four-year starter at Toll Gate High School. At quarterback, he was a two-time team MVP and a two-time All-Division selection. His coach Jim Stringfellow said that Vann "showed great leadership and work ethic, always looking to be the best player on the field."

Castleton University, coming off a 6-4 season in 2017, opens the 2018 campaign at home against Plymouth State Saturday, Sept. 1, starting at 1 p.m.